Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-02-10
THE NORTHWEST
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c. Jan. 81, 1856


The tOilers on Capitol Hill confronted
various questions during the past week,
some of which were important, while
others were not so. Among them were
the fisheries trouble with Canada; wo-
man suffrage; pensions; the bill estab-
fishing Agricultural Experiment Sta
tions; the bill preventing members of
Congress form acting as attorneys for
corporations with which Congress has
important dealings; the Pleuro-Pneu-
monia bill; the River and Harbor bill,
and several of the other regular appro-
priation bills.
The Woman Suffrage Association;
which has just closed its nineteeth an
nual convention in this city, saw the
Senate remorsely vote down their pro-
posed suffrage amendment to the Con-
stitution. But sixteen Senators voted
in favor of the ladies, and that was q
great victory for them. They have re-
peatedly seen both Houses of Congress
vote against the consideration of the
proposed amendment, but this was the
first time they ever had vote on the
amendment itself.
A committee Oftwelve ladies, all promi-
nent in the suffrage movement, called
at the White House to present to the
President written protest against that
portion of the Utah bill which dis
franchises the gentle women of Utah.
The MOrmOns are already DISTINGUISHED,
male and female. The President re-
ceived the ladies graciously, and spoke
few words to each as she was intro
duced to him. Several of them made
chnrt NJ 20 In 60 6 - b.
of Utah women to what they had been
allowed to exercise for fifteen years
the franchise-and urged the President
to veto the bill if it passes as it now
reads. Mr.. Cleveland listened atten-
lively, promised to give the matter care
full attention, and said he had supposed
the women of Utah did not care to vote
and did not vote when they had a
chance. He shook hands with each la
dy again at parting, and after they had
been shown through the suite of par
lors, the committee left the house much
pleased with the cordial manner of the
Chief Magistrate.
1t looks as if there is really to be a
change in the Cabinet soon, and that
two of the best officials in the Treasury
are to become President and Vice
President of the new National Bank in
New York. L refer to the Secretary of
the Treasury and to the U. s. Treasu-
er, Mr.. Jordan. Mr.. Manning declines
to say anything regarding the matter,
but 1t is generally believed that he will
offer his resignation to take effect soon
after the adjournment of Congress. The
contemplated retirement of Treasurer
Jordan at that time is openly acknowl-
edged.
While the President is compelled to
regret parting with these officers, he is
quoted as saying that he did not like to
assume the responsibility of standing
in the way of what he regarded as
their self-interest. The salary of Mr..
Manning's new office will be $4,000
more than twice that of a Cabinet Off
Ger. and the position will not require
the continual strain necessary to fill
the office of Secretary of the Treasury.
Besides the President and the Secreta-
ry's friends are constantly fearful that
his health will again succumb to his
present Onerous duties.
There is clear case for veto in the
drag-net pension bill which has passed
the House and the Senate and goes to
the President. Itprovides that all per-
sons who served three months or more
in the military or naval service of the
United States in any war, shall be pen
stoned at the rate of $12 per month if
they are unable to earn a support be-
cause of physical or mental disability.
Anything to spend The surplus" ap-
pears to be the motto of the Republi-
cans of both branches of Congress. This
measure, which was rushed through
the Senate without roll-call, virtually
creates an annex to the Pension Bu-
reau because it offers gratuties to "dis-
abled" eX-soldiels, without regard to
any connection between their service
in the army and their present disabili-
ty.
The bill would take unknown mil
Inns out of the Treasury if it became q
law, for it also provides at the rate of
$l2 per month for the dependent reala-
tives of soldiers who are not able to pro-
vide for them. This would be con-
verting the Federal Government into
an institution for dispensing "out-door
relief" and encouraging shiftlessness
among class that otherwise would be
self-supporting.